Date: 10 January 2012

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT), a government consumer watchdog, is warning people to be aware of a new telephone scam.

Scammers are calling people at home and pretending to be from the OFT. They tell people that the OFT can help them reclaim bank or other charges, such as payment protection insurance refunds. They ask for an upfront fee to be made over the phone.

Some consumers have been asked to pay between £100 and £200.

The OFT is warning people not to pay money to bogus telephone callers claiming to be from the OFT.These callers have no connection with the OFT. The OFT do not ask people for money over the telephone.

If you get a phone call like this, this is a scam and you shouldn't pay.

For more information, go the OFT website at www.oft.gov.uk.